Circuit board retainer

Abstract

A circuit board retainer includes a U-shaped body portion having a base plate and two side plates extending from the base plate. A panel connecting portion includes first and second retaining tabs offset and extending from the base plate in opposite directions. The first retaining tab includes an upward inclined central section and two side sections. The second retaining tab has a downward inclined free edge section. The retaining tabs are received in corresponding openings defined in the support panel with the aid of the inclined free edge section of the second retaining tab. The inclined section of the first retaining tab abuts against an edge of the corresponding opening while the side sections thereof overlappingly engage underside of the support panel thereby securing the circuit board retainer to the support panel. A board connecting portion includes two resilient L-shaped members respectively extending from the side plates of the U-shaped body portion. Wedge-shaped barbs are formed on opposite edges of the L-shaped members and are inclined with respect thereto. The L-shaped members are forcibly inserted into a slot defined in a circuit board with an edge of the slot interposed between the barbs and bases of the L-shaped members thereby securely retaining the circuit board on the circuit board retainer.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A retainer for retaining a circuit board on a support panel comprising: 
       a body having first and second ends, the second end forming a first plane;  
       board connecting means formed on the first end of the body for engaging with the circuit board, the board connecting means comprising two spaced resilient members extending from the first end of the body for being inserted into a slot defined in the circuit board by being resiliently deformed, wedge-shaped barbs being formed on opposite edges of each resilient member adapted to engage with an edge of the slot for retaining the circuit board on the retainer; and  
       panel connecting means formed on the second end of the body for engaging with the support panel thereby supporting the circuit board on the support panel, the panel connecting means comprising first and second retaining tabs extending from the second end of the body in opposite directions and located at a second plane substantially parallel to and spaced from the first plane for being respectively received in first and second openings defined in the support panel, the first retaining tab comprising a central section located between and separate from two side sections, the central section being inclined upward with respect to the side sections, whereby when the retaining tabs are received in the openings of the support panel, the central section of the first retaining tab abuts against a notch defined in an edge of the first opening while the side sections of the first retaining tab and the second retaining tab overlappingly engage an underside of the support panel for securing the retainer on the support panel.  
     
     
       2. The retainer as claimed in claim  1 , wherein the second retaining tab forms a downward inclined free edge section for guiding the second retaining tab into the second opening of the support panel after the first retaining tab is inserted into the first opening of the support panel. 
     
     
       3. The retainer as claimed in claim  1 , wherein the resilient members of the board connecting means are L-shaped comprising a first section extending from the body and a second section extending from the first section in a direction substantially normal thereto, the barbs being formed on opposite edges of the second section of each L-shaped resilient member, the first section forming a shoulder for supporting the circuit board whereby the circuit board is interposed between the barbs and the first sections. 
     
     
       4. The retainer as claimed in claim  1 , wherein the body is U-shaped comprising a base plate forming the first plane and two spaced side plates extending from the base plate, the retaining tabs of the panel connecting means are L-shaped extending from opposite edges the base plate in opposite directions substantially parallel therewith, the resilient members of the board connecting means respectively extending from the side plates. 
     
     
       5. The retainer as claimed in claim  1 , wherein the barbs are inclined with respect to the resilient members. 
     
     
       6. A circuit board assembly comprising: 
       a support panel defining a pair of openings;  
       a circuit board defining a slot therein; and  
       a plurality of retainers connecting the circuit board to the support panel, each retainer comprising:  
       a body having first and second ends, the second end forming a first plane;  
       board connecting means formed on the first end of the body for engaging with the circuit board, the board connecting means comprising two spaced resilient members extending from the first end of the body for being inserted into the slot defined in the circuit board by being resiliently deformed, wedge-shaped barbs being formed on opposite edges of each resilient member adapted to engage with an edge of the slot for retaining the circuit board on the retainer; and  
       panel connecting means formed on the second end of the body for engaging with the support panel thereby supporting the circuit board on the support panel, the panel connecting means comprising first and second retaining tabs extending from the second end of the body in opposite directions and located at a second plane substantially parallel to and spaced from the first plane for being respectively received in the first and second openings of the support panel, the first retaining tab comprising a central section located between and separate from two side sections, the central section being inclined upward with respect to the side sections, whereby when the retaining tabs are received in the openings of the support panel, the central section of the first retaining tab abuts against an edge of the first opening while the side sections of the first retaining tab and the second retaining tab overlappingly engage an underside of the support panel for securing the retainer on the support panel.  
     
     
       7. The circuit board assembly as claimed in claim  6 , wherein the second retaining tab forms a downward inclined free edge section for guiding the second retaining tab into the second opening of the support panel after the first retaining tab is inserted into the first opening of the support panel. 
     
     
       8. The circuit board assembly as claimed in claim  6 , wherein the resilient members of the board connecting means are L-shaped comprising a first section extending from the body and a second section extending from the first section in a direction substantially normal thereto, the barbs being formed on opposite edges of the second section of each L-shaped resilient member, the first section forming a shoulder for supporting the circuit board whereby the circuit board is interposed between the barbs and the first sections. 
     
     
       9. The circuit board assembly as claimed in claim  6 , wherein the body is U-shaped comprising a base plate forming the first plane and two spaced side plates extending from the base plate, the retaining tabs of the panel connecting means are L-shaped extending from opposite edges the base plate in opposite directions substantially parallel therewith, the resilient members of the board connecting means respectively extending from the side plates. 
     
     
       10. The circuit board assembly as claimed in claim  6 , wherein the barbs are inclined with respect to the resilient members. 
     
     
       11. A circuit board assembly comprising: 
       a support panel defining a pair of openings;  
       a retainer positioned on the support panel and including:  
       a body defining opposite first and second ends; board connecting means formed on the first end and defining a horizontal section to cooperate with wedge-shaped barbs for retainably sandwiching a circuit board therebetween;  
       panel connecting means formed on the second end for retainable engagement with the support panel thereby supporting the circuit board on the support panel, said panel connection means including first and second opposite retaining tabs extending from the second end of the body and through the corresponding openings of the support panel, respectively, at least one of said retaining tabs defining two sections split from each other; wherein  
       one of said two sections abuts against one edge of the corresponding opening while the other of said two sections overlappingly engages an underside of the support panel for securing the retainer on the support panel.  
     
     
       12. The assembly as claimed in claim  11 , wherein the section engaging the underside of the support panel horizontally extends parallel to the support panel while the section abutting against the edge of the opening obliquely extends upward.